2/2/2015

We have been under the care of Veterans Funeral Care out of Clearwater since Everly's passing. They were instrumental in assisting us with taking Everly home ourselves. There was red tape that needed to be sifted through taking her from the hospital and across state lines. However, they just stepped up and just made it happen. In addition, our family many months ago decided that Everly would spend time at home with us after she passed should this day ever come. Veterans was again instrumental in making that non-traditional (nowadays) request a reality. Thus, Everly spent this past weekend at home with us one last time. Though we knew her spirit had left and was resting with Jesus, we were able to spend some more time with her earthly body.

The pain for us is still raw and very real. Each of us is handling it in our own way. We know this will be something that we will have on our hearts for the rest of our lives. And that idea alone is daunting. We will be seeking some grief counseling to help navigate this way. This is too big, too enormous for us to handle on our own at this time.

We have been blessed by many people in our lives who have jumped in to help with decisions, plans, care of the boys, care for ourselves, food, flowers, preparations. We thank you for the love you are pouring into our family. Our grief is overwhelming and simple day to day tasks are all but impossible. Having you step up to help make calls on our behalf, allow us the privacy to grieve, taking the boys at various times, etc. has been helpful and appreciated. While you can "prepare" for this day because you were told it would happen sometime, you will never BE prepared when it happens. Never. So, the shock and numbness is consuming and far reaching.

Everly's Celebration of Life is planned for February 20, 2015 at 4 p.m. with visitation with us the two hours prior and again some following the service. Cards and letters can be mailed to Everly Hopkins, 3905 Tampa Rd. #2696, Oldsmar, FL 34677. Monetary gifts can be made to the Everly M. Hopkins Donation Account at any Wells Fargo Bank location which includes online transfers. Funds will be used to take care of Everly's final arrangements. (FYI: Tributes on CaringBridge do not go to Everly or the family.)

Thank you for your continued prayers for us. We have peace that our Sweet Pea is with Jesus and that she is now fully healed.

With love and appreciation,

Crystal